Finland Sees Surge in Hotel Stays, Especially from European Travelers As the year progresses, Finland is witnessing a notable rise in hotel stays, with a particularly sharp increase in visitors from Europe. This trend reflects a growing interest in Finland as a travel destination, according to Julia Sweden, the chief economist at Rakli, who shared insights during a recent review of the hospitality sector. Data reveals that travelers from Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and Italy have contributed significantly to this uptick in overnight stays. While Helsinki has emerged as a focal point for tourism growth, it’s…
Author: Finland Review
A technical glitch during Finland’s autumn matriculation exam for mother tongue disrupted assessments, allowing some students to answer only one task—either an informational text or a literary analysis—instead of both. The hiccup, which occurred a few weeks ago, meant that log data from students’ computers accumulated so rapidly that the exam system’s servers quickly ran out of disk space. This unfortunate crash forced examinas to halt at various schools. In response to the interruption, the Matriculation Examination Board (YTL) implemented an emergency measure: schools where the disruption lasted more than two hours were permitted to administer a shorter version of…
Tragic Loss: Legendary Coach John Beam Killed in Shooting Incident Oakland’s sports community was rocked by devastating news on Thursday. John Beam, a revered American football coach with an illustrious career spanning decades, has died at the age of 66. Reports from CNN and other outlets confirm that Beam was fatally shot on the campus of Laney College in broad daylight. The incident unfolded around noon within the college’s athletic facilities, where authorities believe Beam was deliberately targeted by an assailant who was familiar to him. Despite being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, Beam succumbed to his injuries…
Several initiatives from the Finnish government have hit a standstill, and recent reports from Helsingin Sanomat point the finger increasingly at Minister of Transport and Communications, Lulu Wrist. The newspaper highlighted a noticeable lack of consensus on critical issues, including the reform of taxi regulations, land use for wind power, and climate policy initiatives. Just last month, state and municipal governments reached an agreement on the financing for the first phase of the much-anticipated ‘one-hour’ Helsinki-Turku railway project, known officially as the West Railway. However, this resolution came after a considerable amount of deliberation, as the paper noted. At the…
Kakko Shines Amidst Injury Setback In a bittersweet moment for the Seattle Kraken, Kaapo Kakko notched his first goal of the NHL season early Friday morning before suffering an unfortunate injury just moments later. Kakko’s goal came as he teamed up with Jaden Schwartz, whose shot created a scoring opportunity against the Winnipeg Jets, leveling the game at 1-1. It marked an exciting highlight for Kakko, who had played seven games this season without finding the back of the net until now. However, the joyful celebration quickly turned to concern when, shortly after his goal, Kakko was injured while attempting…
How Well Do You Know Swedish Ferries? Every day, a flurry of ferries shuttle between Finland and Sweden, drawing eager travelers—from weekend cruisers to adventurous day-trippers. For many Finns, these vessels aren’t just modes of transport; they are a cherished part of the travel experience. Chances are, you’ve set foot on one of these Swedish ships, perhaps more than once. But how well do you really know them? We’ve crafted a test that will put your maritime knowledge to the test. Take a look at the image provided and see if you can identify which ship it originates from. Think…
Finland’s First Driverless Bus Service Launches in Tampere Next Week A groundbreaking leap in public transport is set to take place in Tampere next week with the launch of Finland’s first fare-paying driverless bus service. Starting Monday, a fully electric autonomous bus will begin its route between the neighborhoods of Hervantajärvi and Lintuhytti, paving the way for a new era in urban transportation. While autonomous buses have made appearances in Tampere before—as part of pilot projects—this new service marks a significant step, as it will require passengers to pay for their rides. The route will also conveniently connect to the…
A Night of Discontent for Sport: Tappara Triumphs 7–1 In a stark display of dominance, Doug Shedden’s Sport faced a humbling defeat on Wednesday night, as they succumbed 7–1 to league giants Tappara in front of a home crowd in Vaasa. With an attendance of 4,728, fans hoping for a thrilling evening found themselves mostly witnessing Tappara’s relentless scoring. Players Joachim Blichfeld and Benjamin Rautiainen emerged as stars of the night, each recording four goals, lighting up the scoreboard and leaving the Sport players looking somewhat flat. “Some of the guys were sleeping,” Shedden remarked candidly. The team had enjoyed…
Travel Stories Exciting news for globetrotters: soon, travelers on Australia’s east coast will have direct access to some of the world’s most bustling cities without the hassle of stopovers. In a noteworthy development, Qantas has announced that a groundbreaking passenger plane capable of flying these long distances without intermediate landings is nearing completion. Produced in Toulouse, France, this engineering marvel has seen its primary components successfully assembled. Qantas, in collaboration with Airbus, has also unveiled the first tantalizing images and videos of this innovative aircraft, which promises to redefine long-haul travel. As we look forward to its inaugural flights, it’s…
Tax payments are a matter of public record in Finland, and each year the Finnish Tax Administration unveils a list of the country’s top earners. In a tradition fondly known among Finns as “tax day,” or perhaps more aptly, “envy day,” the Tax Administration published its annual report on Wednesday morning. This year, the spotlight shines on individuals who earned over 120,000 euros in taxable income last year. Once again, Mikko “Miki” Kuusi, the co-founder of the popular delivery service Wolt, takes the lead as Finland’s highest income earner and top taxpayer. This marks a remarkable third consecutive year Kuusi…